Impact of Walking and Running on the Heel bone: the Adventist Health Study-2
Vichuda Lousuebsakul-Matthews *
Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA and Los Angeles County, Department of Health Services, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Donna Thorpe
Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Professions, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Raymond Knutsen
Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
W. Larry Beeson
Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Gary E. Fraser
Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Synnove F. Knutsen
Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle and Disease Prevention, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: Physical activity is well recognized for its bone health benefit. We examined the benefit of walk/run/jog on bone health using broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) of the calcaneus.
Methodology: Caucasian and African American males (n=593) and females (n=1,106) had their calcaneal BUA measured two years later after enrollment into the AHS-2. The association between calcaneal BUA (dB/Mhz) and the distance of walk/run/ jog level per week (miles) was assessed using multiple linear regression.
Results: In a multivariable model adjusted for important covariates, BUA was positively associated with BMI (P < .001), total calcium intake (P =0.31), total protein intake (P =0.38) and inversely associated with age (P < .001) and smoking (P < .05). Compared to women who did not walk/ run/ jog, women walking 10 or more miles per week had an increase in BUA by 4.08 (dB/Mhz) (P trend=0.03). Similarly, compared to men who did not walk/ run/ jog, men walking 10 or more miles per week had an increase in BUA by 5.97 (dB/Mhz) (P trend=0.01).
Conclusions: We concluded that BUA is positively associated with walk/ run/jog after accounting for age, BMI, smoking status, calcium intake, protein intake and estrogen usage.
Keywords: Physical activity, musculoskeletal health, exercise, broadband ultrasound attenuation.